Asphalting work of third Mandovi bridge begins

TNN | Dec 27, 2018, 06:07 IST

The work of hot mixing the approach road of the third Mandovi Bridge commenced from the Porvorim side on Wedne...Read More

PANAJI: Work of asphalting the third Mandovi bridge and its approach roads began on Wednesday, as the new bridge is expected to open for use by January 12, 2019. Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation vice-chairperson Sidharth Kunkaliencar said in the next ten days, work of hotmixing the road will be completed. The five-kilometre, Rs 482-crore long, cable-stayed bridge is a link between Porvorim and the capital city. Recently, ailing chief minister Manohar Parrikar visited the bridge. He travelled along the entire length of the bridge and spent nearly an hour inspecting the work. He directed the contractors, who are building the bridge, Larsen and Toubro (L&T), to complete the construction work by January 12. Parrikar is understood to have ordered L&T to complete illumination of the bridge by this year-end. Parrikar said the crash barriers and painting has to be completed by January 12. Given that the massive bridge adds a new element to the city’s skyline, Parrikar had also suggested that the national flag could be flown from atop the pylons of the bridge at a height of around 35m. The last segment of the bridge on the Porvorim side was put in place on October 17 at a small ceremony. At the function, GSIDC announced that the bridge was 91% complete and would be opened for traffic in either the first or second week of January. Construction of the bridge, which extends from Pundalik Nagar junction to Merces junction, began on July 27, 2014, and is a priority project for the Parrikar-led BJP coalition government.